Alta slid into the passenger side of Rian’s car, yawning as he leaned into the seat. Today had been full of too many big emotions, and he was more than ready to turn off his brain for a few hours. Rian was still changing out of his work uniform and Alta took a moment to enjoy the silence. 

“Dammit,” he muttered under his breath, not fighting the smile on his face. He had not expected Rian to give him a chance after he forced the pairing, and even more so, he appreciated the alpha’s honesty about still being mad. It gave Alta a sense of permission to feel his own tangled emotions and he closed his eyes, leaning back. There was nothing simple about any of this, but it was nice to feel wanted. It was always nice. 

“Sorry,” Rian’s voice slid into the car as he dropped into the seat beside him, freshly showered and changed into a soft, dark gray T-shirt that clung in all the right places. His damp hair stuck slightly to his temples and neck, and his scent drifted across the cabin like a comforting balm. “Wanted to shower really quick, and this.”

Alta barely turned as Rian slid his hand into Alta’s hair, pressing their lips together as Alta felt something new. He made a soft noise, surprised at first by the unfamiliar press of cool metal. He barely had time to register it before Rian tilted his head and deepened the kiss, the silver stud of his tongue ring slipping deliberately against Alta’s lower lip. 

“Oh,” Alta breathed, pulling back just enough to murmur against his mouth, “you’ve been holding out on me.”

“I don’t wear it during my rut and I take it out for work.” Rian grinned, slow and satisfied, like a cat that had finally gotten the cream. “Ysemna doesn’t mind, but none of the betas can keep their mouths shut.”

Alta chuckled as he pulled Rian’s lips back to his, humming slightly into the kiss. Rian’s tongue moved with practiced precision, the cool metal a teasing drag against Alta’s, a contrast to the warmth of his mouth and the press of his body. Alta felt himself melting into it, a low sound escaping his throat as Rian’s hand slid up to cup the back of his neck, holding him there like he never intended to let go again.

“We should stop before we end up not getting food,” Rian pulled back and Alta laughed, his forehead resting against Rian’s.

“You make that sound like an awful idea.”

“I’m hungry,” Rian shrugged and Alta leaned back in his seat as Rian settled into his. “I would offer to go somewhere nice, but neither of us are exactly dressed for a fancy date.”

“I am good with anything,” Alta shrugged, buckling his seatbelt just as Rian started to back out and the car began to complain. God, he missed when seat belts were a suggestion. “Haven’t eaten all day.”

“You didn’t have to come straight here. You should have gotten something,” the concern in Rian’s voice made Alta smile faintly as he looked out the window, the city lights smearing against the glass like watercolor. The sun was already setting despite the early time, and Alta closed his eyes again as he leaned against the glass.

“Didn’t think about it.”

“Hmm,” Rian’s voice was full of disbelief, but Alta didn’t try to answer it. He couldn’t tell Rian about what happened at the bakery, and so it was just easier to say nothing. Then: “By the way, can you drive?”

“I know how, but I don’t have a car or a license,” Alta shrugged, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Beth taught me how back in the 60s.”

“Beth?” 

“My previous Alpha,” Alta opened his eyes, smiling as he thought about her. It was crazy to think of all that had happened since the night he told her goodbye. “We met in the 50s. Wild, but sweet. Old age made her even sweeter.”

“Sorry for your loss,” Rian’s gentle tone made Alta frown and he considered if he wanted to tell Rian the truth. It was a loss, in a way, and he didn’t expect he would get a chance to keep his promise to go to Beth’s funeral once she did finally pass. Alta sighed, rocking slightly as Rian stopped at a light. 

“She’s still alive. Her ruts stopped about six years ago, so my mark faded.” Not quite a lie, not quite the truth.

“Huh, I guess that makes sense that it would work that way for someone who doesn’t age,” Rian nodded, a thoughtful look on his face as Alta finally turned to look at him. Rian’s eyes were focused on the road as the light turned green and Alta continued to watch him, taking in the steady set of Rian’s jaw, the flick of his gaze in the side mirror, the way his hands moved confidently across the steering wheel. “How do you feel about burgers and shakes?”

“Good for me,” Alta agreed, smiling as he saw Rian’s gaze dart to meet his. He took the alpha’s hand as Rian offered across the console, lacing their fingers together. “Didn’t mention it before, but your car is custom, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, gift from my parents. They are also both deltas, so they gave me the car to help,” Rian carefully took the next turn, refusing to release Alta’s hand as they slid around the corner. “As you saw, my mom’s a backup alpha too. Dad’s an accountant.”

“I’m going to assume shelter work pays well then, considering your apartment too,” Alta laughed, a chuckle threading through the air between them as Rian turned into the diner lot. 

“I mean, it’s government, so yeah, it pays pretty well,” Rian finally released Alta’s hand as he focused on backing into a space and Alta let his eyes roam over the band shirt that mirrored his own. It was still damp, and Alta liked the way it clung, like the shirt didn’t want to let go of Rian either. “Inside or to go?”

“We can sit inside,” Alta carefully released himself and pushed open the car door, stepping into the evening air. The fading sun brushed everything with gold, and a gentle breeze caught the loose strands of his hair, lifting them like whispers against his skin. He followed Rian toward the diner entrance, the alpha once again lacing their hands together. 

The energy inside was palpable, and Alta slid into the booth seat the hostess led them to, unsurprised when Rian slid next to him. She carefully laid out the menus, swiftly leaving them to their quiet corner. Despite the crowd, the girl had led them to an empty area, as if she could tell exactly what kind of “date” this was. 

“Date,” Alta muttered to himself, not resisting as Rian fingers gently tilted his chin up.

“You sound surprised. I thought I was your type.”

“I was trying to not get my hopes up. Any one else would have had me charged, not given me a chance at a relationship,” Alta admitted, leaning into the gentle kiss Rian pulled from his lips. The warm, new love feeling fluttered in Alta's chest, and he let himself enjoy it without guilt. It wasn’t a mistake to want this, to want Rian, to indulge in this kind of affection. 

Rian’s hand stayed warm against Alta’s cheek even after the kiss broke. “Well, do you ever get tired of being in love?”

“Do you ever get tired of eating your favorite cake?”

“Fair.” Rian shrugged, giving Alta another gentle kiss. “This feels really weird for me. I've never… liked someone this much before. So we’ll hold off on the charges for now.”

“It settles after a while. The beginning is always intense. Urgent and desperate,” Alta smiled, finally opening the menu as Rian gently wrapped his arm around his shoulder. “When you're lucky, it settles into something warm and comforting. It becomes less exciting, but it's–’

“Home.” Rian finished and Alta nodded as he felt a kiss in his hair. “Know what you want?”

“Kinda. You?”

“I always get the same thing.” Rian shrugged, a brow raised in challenge as he turned his menu around for Alta to see. “Double burger with jalapeños, onion rings, milkshake. Chocolate and peanut butter, mint if I'm in a mood and sometimes a pie slice if I’m still hungry.”

Alta squinted at the list, not hiding his judgemental expression. “That is a teenage boy’s dream order.”

“It’s indulgent, not juvenile.” Rian leaned in with a smug grin. “You should try it before you knock it.”

“Sorry, but I have taste,” Alta leaned into the menu with an arched brow, voice smooth and unbothered. “I’m getting a double bacon with swiss. And a strawberry swirl milkshake, obviously.”

“Obviously,” Rian echoed, his tone rich with mock offense. “You're not even gonna try a fry from my plate?”

“I’ll steal three,” Alta said without looking up. “Not because they’ll be good, but because I can.”

Rian made a wounded sound, which only made Alta smirk harder as he leaned back against the warm press of the alpha’s side. Their waitress arrived a few moments later, a young and tired-looking alpha but quick with a notepad and bright enough to pick up on the fact that neither of them needed the usual chirpy questions. She took their orders quickly, even talking Rian into a slice of their featured pie as she took their menus.

Once she left, Rian shifted slightly, stretching his arm before resting his hand on Alta's shoulder. “May I?”

“May you what?”

“Take advantage of the fact that we were obviously put in the furthest corner?” Rian's voice dropped and Alta smiled slowly, the corners of his mouth curving in amusement as he angled his body toward Rian. The light from the window spilled across the alpha’s face, catching in the darker strands of his damp hair.

“Depends on whether it'll get us kicked out or not.” 

“Maybe a warning.” Rian grinned, pulling Alta closer as he pressed a slow, lingering kiss against the side of Alta’s throat. His breath was warm, and the way his lips brushed against skin rather than demanded it made Alta exhale softly, eyes falling half-lidded. He tilted his head just slightly, granting better access, not because Rian needed it, but because Alta liked the way it made the alpha groan low and pleased.

“I think I’m addicted to this already,” Rian murmured, teeth grazing just barely, a whisper of a bite that never landed. His tongue followed the motion, the faintest flick against the corner of Alta’s jaw. “Is that normal?”

Alta’s smile was slow and knowing. “Yup.”

“Good.” Rian kissed him again, deeper this time, one hand anchoring around Alta’s hip like he was holding on to something fragile and wild all at once. Like if he let go, the whole thing might vanish into thin air. 

Alta returned it with a confidence born of experience, matching Rian’s urgency with the kind of ease that only came from having fallen in love over and over again. This wasn’t new to him, but the person was. That’s what mattered. That’s what kept it real.

What made it worth it. 

Rian broke the kiss slowly, his forehead resting against Alta’s as he caught his breath. The noise of the diner seemed to recede for a moment, just the thrum of their shared heartbeat in the bubble they’d made between themselves and the rest of the world.

“I think I’m going to be annoying about this,” Rian admitted, voice low and quiet against the edge of Alta’s lips.

Alta arched a brow, but didn’t pull away. “You’re already annoying. This won’t be new.”

“I mean annoying in the clingy way. Wanting to touch you. Wanting you around all the time. Wanting to… I don’t know, put my stupid hoodie on you and watch you wear it all day like a badge.”

“You could just ask me to wear your hoodie.”

“But that’s not the same.”

Alta finally pulled back just enough to look him in the eye, his expression somewhere between amused and deeply fond. “You really have never had a crush like this?”

“No.” Rian's voice was so sincere that his simple answer filled the space between them. “I've had hookups, been on a few dates, but I never really cared. They were fine, I'm not saying they weren't, but it wasn't… this.”

“Then you have a very discerning heart,” Alta smiled, cradling Rian's face in his hands. “I wish mine had been.”

Then I wouldn't be trapped like this. Alta stole one more kiss before he settled in beside the alpha, laying his head on Rian's shoulder. He closed his eyes, taking in the feel of Rian's hands on him and the sights and smells of the diner. Happiness like this shouldn't have a timer, and Alta let himself forget, just for a moment, that it did. 

He let the warmth sink into his bones, the texture of denim beneath his palm where Rian’s thigh pressed against his. The alpha shifted slightly, enough to angle them into something more comfortable, one arm curving across Alta’s back in a loose, easy hold that made it feel like they were already a couple. Like they’d been a couple. Like it was old news and nobody would blink seeing them like this; entwined in the corner booth of a tired diner, sharing low whispers and long glances and the occasional absent stroke of fingers over fabric.

“Should I call you my boyfriend?”

“You are the one deciding where this goes,” Alta answered, keeping his voice soft as he spoke, “I’m whatever you want me to be.”

“Is there a name for maybe boyfriend?” Rian rested his chin lightly atop Alta’s head, “’Cause I don’t want to rush it, but I also don’t want to say ‘the omega I’m seeing,’ like we’re tiptoeing around it.”

“You could call me your trial mate.”

“That makes it sound like I’m still taking you to court,” Rian laughed, his voice low and tangled in Alta’s hair. The warmth of it made Alta hum softly, content to let the sound wrap around them like an invisible blanket. “How about nestie?”

“Nestie?” Alta repeated, looking up just as Rian snuck in another kiss. 

“Yeah, like after the app. Nestie,” Rian grinned and Alta shook his head, forcing himself to keep the smile. He knew about the apps, Neralle was always eager to show him any new functionality that was added for the omegas that used it, but Alta himself had never used Nest. There was no time, and no point. Waiting for his heat to happen naturally was never an option when Yna was always waiting for him to mess up.

She didn’t belong here.

“I like it,” Alta agreed, leaning away as the waitress finally came back with their food. As she set the plates down, Alta let the smile linger on his face. A normal booth. A normal meal. Two people, tangled in the earliest threads of something uncertain and strangely beautiful. That was the thing about being in love. 

It never got old.